Antiwobble actuator for an electric switch

ABSTRACT

An actuator and switch structure comprising cooperative configurated structural elements that prevent wobble, rotation or distortional movement of the actuator during its linear reciprocal movement relative to the switch components contained within the switch housing.

inventor Michael F. Bedocs Highland Park, 1111.

Appl. No. 15,158

Filed Feb. 27, 1970 Patented Oct. 19, 1971 Assignee Cherry Electrical Products Corporation Highland Par-1r, ill.

ANTIIWOBBILIE ACTUATOR FOR AN ELECTIRHC SWll'llClHl 2 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

11.3. C1 200/172 R llnLCl H0111 3/12 lField 011 Search 200/172,

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,447,969 8/1948 Voigtlander 200/159 R 2,743,331 4/1956 Lauder et al 200/172 A UX 3,246,110 4/1966 Hermanson et a1... 200/168 G X 3,249,726 5/1966 Long 200/159 R 3,360,627 12/1967 Wessel 200/168 G 3,501,603 3/1970 Willcox 200/172 A X Primary Examinerl-1. O. J ones Att0rneyEdward C i Threedy ABSTRACT: An actuator and switch structure comprising cooperative configurated structural elements that prevent wobble, rotation-or distortional movement of the actuator during its linear reciprocal movement relative to the switch components contained within the switch housing.

ANTTWUBIBLIE ACTUATUR FOR AN ELECTRIC SWllTCll-il SUMMARY OF THE lNVENTlON in a switch construction including a housing and switch actuator wherein portions thereof contribute related cooperating structure for containing the switch components and for providing positive guides for the switch actuator during its substantially linear reciprocal movement relative to such switch components; the cooperating structures being provided by specific configurations presented by the actuator and its housing. The actuator housing consists of a hollow boxlike compartment having an open top and bottom wall and wherein the inner wall surfaces provide cam elements that are adapted to functionally cooperate with camming elements on corresponding sides of an enlarged head formed on the elongated stem of the switch actuator, all of which cooperate to prevent wobbling, rotation, or distortional movement of the actuator during its movement through its housing and the switch structure.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawing in which is illustrated one embodiment of the invention, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a switch structure including the elements of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the switch structure;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view similar to PEG. 2, but show ing the switch in an actuated condition;

HO. 4 is a perspective view of the switch structure in an open condition and showing the switch components thereof;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the inner wall surface of the switch case; and

FIGS. 6 and 7 are perspective views of the switch actuator. In the employment of snap-action switchs, the actuator thereof is usually designed to move through a substantially linear reciprocal path and is so moved by some form of external device, such as a rotating cam, movable lever, or by hand. In many instances, the switch becomes a relatively small portion of a large device which during its operation sets up inherent vibrations and distortional movements. To prevent the actuator of the switch from becoming displaced or out of alignment with respect to the associated operable devices or where the actuator or its adapter protrudes through an escutcheon plate opening, it is imperative that the actuator in its unactuated position and during its linear movement, be prevented from wobbling, rotating, or having any distortional movement out of its designed path of actuation. To accomplish this, I have provided a switch 10 which includes a case ll and cover 12 with an external actuator housing 113 by which the switch actuator M is prevented from wobbling, rotating, or having imparted thereto any distortional movement other than its prescribed linear actuating path.

The switch housing comprises a hollow boxlilte structure consisting of a rear wall 115 which is formed as an integral eittension of the rear wall 16 of the case ill as clearly shown in the drawings.

The top wall E7 of the case ill also forms the base for sidewalls id and 19 which increase in width as they extend upwardly from the top wall 117 of the case llll along an inclined surface 20.

The cover 12 provides the front wall Zll for the actuator housing as well as complementary sidewalls 22 and 23 which, reversely to the sidewalls l8 and 19, are reduced in width as they approach the partial top wall 24 which connects the front wall 2ll to the sidewalls 22 and 23, as clearly shown in FIGS. ii and 4.

The top wall 17 of the case lll as well as the top wall 25 of the cover 12 are each provided with a corresponding opening 26 and 27, respectively, within the area of such top walls which is surrounded by the sidewalls of the actuator housing 13.

The rear wall 15 and sidewalls l8 and 19 of the housing 13 carried by the case ill are all connected together by a top laterally extending flange 28 which defines an opening 29 for the rectangularly shaped guide 30 carried by the actuator M.

As viewed in FlG. 5, the inner walll surface M of the rear wall 15 as well as the inner wall surface 32 of the sidewall l9 at the line of connection between such surfaces and the top flange 28, provides cam surfaces 33 and IM- which extend in an upward and inward direction so as to in turn terminate about the periphery of the opening 29. The flange portion 28 which extends above the rear wall l of the switch housing as viewed in FIG. 5, provides a lug 35 which projects inwardly of the opening 23 and which is in turn projected into a slot 36 formed in the head 37 and guide 30 of the actuator M as clearly shown in FIG. 7.

The guide 3t) of the actuator ll4 also provides on its one wall surface, to either side of the slot 36, cam members 38. A like cam member 39 is provided on one sidewall of the guide 30 of the actuator 14 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

in assembling the switch structure lit), the actuator M is placed such that the guide 30 thereof is contained in the opening 29 provided by that portion of the actuator housing l3 car ried by the case ll, with the lug 35 projected into the slot 36 and the cam members 33 and 39 in abutment with the cam surfaces 33 and 3 1 heretofore described. The stem portion 40 of the actuator ll l projects inwardly oi? the switch structure it) into the inner compartments thereof which house the switch components. These switch components consist of spaced apart switch terminals 41 and 452, a combination terminal and blade support 43, a movable blade 4M3 pivoted to the support 43 by a coil spring 45 which is connected at one end to the blade 4% and at its opposite end to the support 43, all in a manner well ltnown in the switch art.

The stem 40' of the actuator l4! provides a shoulder 51 which engages the coil spring 45 and a rectangularly shaped leg ilti which projects beyond the coil spring 45 and through a spacing provided by the terminal support 43 and is disposed in an opening 49 formed in the bottom wall 48 of the case lll. The bottom wall 49 of the cover 112 provides an outwardly projecting lug 5t) which forms the fourth side of the opening 39 and closes the same about the leg 4MB of the actuator M.

it should be noted that to accomplish the objects of this invention, the basic switch component and actuator stabilizing elements are all basically formed in the case ii. in this regard, you will note that the opening 439 in the bottom wall 4% of the case is in alignment with the lug 35 formed on the flange portion 23 of the rear wall T5 and that the opening 29 is defined by the three large wall sections l5, lid and l9. By this construction, the case permits close tolerance control of all of the components as well as the actuator during the assembling of the switch. It is also obvious that as the openings 29 and 19 are spaced apart as far as possible, they will cooperate to prevent distortional movement of the actuator during its operation. Thus, when the actuator M is depressed within the switch structure lltl through a substantially linear path of movement, the lug 35 will ride in the slot 36 of the actuator and cooperate with the movement of the leg 46 in the opening 419 to guide such actuating movement of the actuator M during its linear movement. The guide 30 of the actuator 14 will move inwardly of the actuator housing 13 during the initial actuating movement of the actuator and, upon its return, the cam mem bers 38 and 39 will engage their respective cam surfaces 33 and 34 so as to cooperate with the lug 35 to maintain the ac tuator M in a relatively stable relation to the switch structure ill] and within its housing l3 and in a position where the actuator ll ii cannot rotate, wobble, or be distorted out of its prescribed position relative to the switch components.

While l have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. l, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. A switch structure including a housing for an elongated actuator having substantially linear reciprocal movement for actuating the components of the switch, wherein the improvement comprises:

a. a hollow open top actuator housing provided by the switch structure and having open communication with the interior thereof,

b. an elongated actuator extending through said actuator housing and the switch structure,

c. said actuator providing an enlarged body portion of a size complementary to the open top of said actuator housing, with one wall thereof slotted to receive a guide lug provided by and projecting laterally from one wall of said actuator housing for guiding said actuator through its housing and the switch structure during its linear movement in one direction,

d. and means provided by a portion of said actuator housing cooperating with said enlarged body portion of said actuator for stabilizing said actuator during the return reciprocal linear movement of said actuator through its housing.

2. A switch structure as defined by claim 1, wherein said means provided by a portion of said actuator housing that cooperates with said enlarged body portion of said actuator, comprises cam surfaces formed on certain interior walls of said actuator housing about the periphery of the open top thereof which are engageable by cam members provided on the back and sidewalls of said enlarged body portion of said actuator, with said cam members cooperating with said cam surfaces for positioning and stabilizing said actuator during its return reciprocal linear movement through its housing. 

1. A switch structure including a housing for an elongated actuator having substantially linear reciprocal movement for actuating the components of the switch, wherein the improvement comprises: a. a hollow open top actuator housing provided by the switch structure and having open communication with the interior thereof, b. an elongated actuator extending through said actuator housing and the switch structure, c. said actuator providing an enlarged body portion of a size complementary to the open top of said actuator housing, with one wall thereof slotted to receive a guide lug provided by and projecting laterally from one wall of said actuator housing for guiding said actuator through its housing and the switch structure during its linear movement in one direction, d. and means provided by a portion of said actuator housing cooperating with said enlarged body portion of said actuator for stabilizing said actuator during the return reciprocal linear movement of said actuator through its housing.
 2. A switch structure as defined by claim 1, wherein said means provided by a portion of said actuator housing that cooperates with said enlarged body portion of said actuator, comprises cam surfaces formed on certain interior walls of said actuator housing about the periphery of the open top thereof which are engageable by cam members provided on the back and sidewalls of said enlarged body portion of said actuator, with said cam members cooperating with said cam surfaces for positioning and stabilizing said actuator during its return reciprocal linear movement through its housing. 